Cumberland County granted a Right-to-Know request by The Patriot-News seeking the name of a man who committed suicide at the county prison this month.

Michael A. Simmons, 21, who had no permanent address, hanged himself Sept. 17, county officials said. Coroner Todd Eckenrode refused to ID Simmons after sending out a news release a few days after his death.

Eckenrode said he didn't identify the man because of the nature of the death and out of respect for the family. The Patriot-News filed a Right-to-Know request seeking the man's name and within days Cumberland County asked for a 30-day extension to perform a legal review.

Simmons was discovered alone in his cell by another inmate following a visual head count about 3:15 p.m. He
was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. There's clear
evidence from the videotape of the cell block that the man acted alone, Eckenrode said.

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